2 Kings 19:14-19
New English Translation
14 Hezekiah took the letter[a] from the messengers and read it.[b] Then Hezekiah went up to the Lord’s temple and spread it out before the Lord. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: “Lord God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim![c] You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky[d] and the earth. 16 Pay attention, Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to the message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God![e] 17 It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands. 18 They have burned the gods of the nations,[f] for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.[g] 19 Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God.”
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- 2 Kings 19:14 tc The MT has the plural, “letters,” but the final mem is probably dittographic (note the initial mem on the form that immediately follows). Some Greek and Aramaic witnesses have the singular.
- 2 Kings 19:14 tc The MT has the plural suffix, “them,” but this probably reflects a later harmonization to the preceding textual issue concerning the plural word “letters.” The parallel passage in Isa 37:14 has the singular suffix.
- 2 Kings 19:15 sn This refers to the cherub images that were above the ark of the covenant.
- 2 Kings 19:15 tn Or “the heavens.”
- 2 Kings 19:16 tn Heb “Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.”
- 2 Kings 19:18 tn Heb “and they put their gods in the fire.”
- 2 Kings 19:18 tn Heb “so they destroyed them.”
2 Kings 19:14-19
New American Standard Bible
Hezekiah’s Prayer
14 Then (A)Hezekiah took the [a]letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and [b]spread it out before the Lord. 15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, “Lord, God of Israel, [c](B)enthroned above the cherubim, (C)You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 (D)Incline Your ear, Lord, and hear; (E)open Your eyes, Lord, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent (F)to taunt the living God. 17 It is true, Lord; the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, 18 and have [d]hurled their gods into the fire; (G)for they were not gods, but only the work of human hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. 19 But now, Lord our God, please, save us from his hand, (H)so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, (I)Lord, are God.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Kings 19:14 Lit letters...read them
- 2 Kings 19:14 Lit Hezekiah spread
- 2 Kings 19:15 Lit sitting
- 2 Kings 19:18 Lit given
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